Local Facility Manufacturing Base

Polyurethane Coatings
Polyurethane coatings are applied to products to improve their appearance and lifespan. On cars, polyurethane coatings give the exterior a high gloss and improved color retention, while offering improved scratch- and corrosion-resistance.

Other types of polyurethane coatings are used in construction, where building floors, steel trusses and concrete supports are spray-coated to make them more durable and less costly to maintain. This coating, for example, makes a suspension bridge easier to clean, helps to keep its support beams from rusting, and improves its appearance even from a great distance.

Coatings used in the aerospace industry protect the external parts of aircraft from extreme temperature differences - from summer heat on the ground to below-freezing at cruising altitudes - and help protect the skin of the plane from rust and pitting.

Polyurethane Adhesives and Sealants
Polyurethane adhesives and sealants provide strong bonding and tight seals in a variety of applications. Polyurethane adhesives provide the advantage of a rapid development of "green strength," where the adhesive provides an initial bond before fully curing. This reduces the need for clamping and holding materials, thereby cutting costs and increasing manufacturing and construction flexibility. Since polyurethane chemistry is so versatile, custom adhesives and sealants displaying a wide variety of chemical and physical properties can be manufactured.

Polyurethane adhesives are used in the assembly of shoes, automotive interiors, windshield bonding and as textile laminates. Conveyor belts are usually closed using polyurethane adhesives, and polyurethane binders are mixed with wood chips or saw dust to form fiberboard. Polyurethane sealants are used in road repair, plumbing, construction and anywhere else a high-strength, water-resistant seal is needed.
Polyurethane sealants provide excellent stress recovery to retain shape after being bent or pulled, fast curing rates and even adherence to non-primed concrete. And unlike most other bonding agents, polyurethane adhesives and sealants can be painted to match the surrounding surfaces.

The low weight of elastomers and their machinability, make elastomers a great choice for dozens of applications. Plus, polyurethane elastomers do a great job of returning to their original shape after stressed (i.e., compressed, bent or stretched).

Polyurethane elastomers can be used virtually everywhere. Snowplow blades are made with polyurethane to reduce road damage caused by metal scraping the roads. Wheels for shopping carts, skateboards, roller coasters, and heavy trash containers are all produced from polyurethane, due to its high load-bearing capacity and abrasion resistance. And since polyurethane elastomers are so easily machined, they can be molded and processed for custom uses such as valves, snowblower augers, balls, and factory fixtures.

Carpet Cushion
FPF improves the comfort and lifespan of our carpet. By absorbing much of the energy from traffic, FPF protects the carpet face allowing the carpet to look better longer. Its design and construction provides long-term comfort without excessive thickness, maintaining the desired feel underfoot throughout the life of the installation. FPF is used in both residential and commercial applications, the majority of which is supplied by the bonded version of the cushion. Studies have repeatedly shown that polyurethane provides outstanding durability, improves carpet appearance retention, and provides comfort and support to occupants. The life cycle extension of the carpet alone can often justify the upfront cost. Add to that polyurethane carpet cushion helps absorb sound by as much as 50% - making the workplace quieter and more productive through reduced noise distraction, less fatigue, and improved employee satisfaction – and the compelling basis for including cushion in the carpet floor covering system is undeniable. There are even environmental benefits: in addition to the fact that bonded polyurethane cushion is made from recycled materials and can be recycled in many localities, the potential extension of carpet life should mean less frequent replacements, resulting in less carpet going to landfill. Some of the many benefits of polyurethane carpet cushion include:
Extended carpet life -- carpet cushion can improve the life expectancy of carpet by up to 50%
Increased savings and reduced downtime due to less frequent replacement
Added comfort
Reduced ambient noise
Enhanced thermal insulation
Easier carpet maintenance
Recyclable in many localities

Transportation
FPF is used extensively in the transportation industry for seating, headrests, arm rests, HVAC components, interior panels and skins, car and truck fenders, truck beds and support rings for run-flat tires, headliners and other interior systems. Recent developments in polyurethane technology for automotive design are contributing to increased weight reduction, passenger comfort, energy and sound absorption, resiliency, moisture and heat resistance, and compressive strength in vehicles. Among the five largest markets for polyurethane (in terms of volume), the automotive market shows the fastest growth: up 8.5 percent from 1998 to 2000 in North America alone. Polyurethane is increasingly valuable to original equipment manufacturers, also known as OEMs, because it simultaneously offers:
weight reduction
sound/vibration absorption
fuel efficiency
durability
All of these benefits translate to better gas mileage and a more comfortable ride.

Bedding
FPF is the primary material used today for adding support and comfort to padded bedding products. Over the past two years, the industry has produced thicker and larger bedding products. This is evidenced by the increasing popularity of pillow-top mattresses.
FPF is produced in slab or block form and cut to size. Because of its durable comfort and support, resistance to smoldering ignition, ease of fabrication, adaptability to styling, cleanliness, FPF has become a major component in the bedding industry.

Packaging
FPF provides protection and cushioning to packaged products. Polyurethane foams are often used to package highly sensitive equipment such as electronics, printed circuit boards, jewelry and delicate foods. FPF’s lightweight, water resistance, shock absorption and resiliency make it an attractive application for packaging.

Textiles and Fibers
Nearly a half-century after its development, FPF continues to impact nearly every aspect of our lives. It is also used as insulation for fabric products including clothing. In clothing, FPF provides thermal insulation, tear resistance, fire resistance and light weight to a variety of textiles and fibers including leather products, shoe uppers, tents, life rafts, labels, hand bags, insulation liners and more.

Spray polyurethane foam (SPF)

SPF used as roofing and insulation system applications conforms to the surface to which it is applied and forms a seamless layer of insulation. Since SPF fills in gaps and seams during application, it is increasingly being used as an air barrier. SPF exhibits a high degree of sustainable characteristics, owing primarily to the minimal energy used in manufacturing the lightweight plastic, as well as decreased energy and transportation costs.

Energy studies performed roofs show the energy cost reductions obtained by applying SPF to more than 8 million square feet of roofing, paid for the cost of the retrofit in a little over three years. SPF adhesives can offer exceptional wind up-lift resistance, exceeding 500 psi over some substrates.

back to top